Pig Association needs more members
6 April 2001
Pig Association ‘needs more members’
By Alistair Driver
THE chairman of the National Pig Association has warned it must attract more members to guarantee its future after losing 150,000 in its first year.
The situation would have been worse had the National Farmers Union not contributed more than 250,000 to the associations income in 2000.
Formed in October 1999, the association negotiated a deal with the NFU to guarantee an income for the first two years of its existence.
The NFU contributed 261,177 so the NPA could represent the unions pig farming members interests. Other NPA subscriptions amounted to just 41,117.
The NPA lost 156,854 in 2000, as costs of 614,477 outweighed its income of 457,038. Administration and staff accounted for most of the expenditure.
Speaking after an annual general meeting on Thursday (5 April), NPA chairman James Black agreed that the association was heavily reliant on the NFU.
“It will no be possible to continue to rely on this generosity or expect the NFU to underwrite is forever,” he said.
“Therefore, we have to convince all producers and allied industries that there is a need for the NPA and enlist their financial support.”
Speaking to FARMERS WEEKLY, Mr Black said he did not think the NPA was in danger of folding after the current arrangement with the NFU expires.
Although nothing has yet been agreed, Mr Black said he expected there to be some sort of financial arrangement with the NFU next year.
NPA subscriptions will be reviewed to ensure better figures next year, he said. A new chief executive for the association is expected to be announced next week.